Self Done Madison (surface neck piercing)
At A Glance
Author eggtea (tony)
Contact eggtea (tony)@bme.anon
IAM eggtea
When A week ago
Artist myseflf
Studio My Bathroom
Location Beaverton, Oregon, USA
WARNING: I did this Madison my self, it's a dangerous location to pierce, since its next to vital blood vessels etc... I highly suggest going to a professional body piercer for safety & optimal results! Make sure to research first!


Madison (1st attempt on November 2003) This was my only piercing that ended up so terribly wrong! Okay first of all I pierced my neck with a curved mattress needle (same one I used for a PA I did in the shower) (1st mistake) then I used a safety pin as the jewelry (2nd mistake). I barely cleaned it (3rd mistake); I didn't research Madison's or surface piercing at all, and didn't even know they existed. I walked around school with a safety pin through my neck that got stuck to my shirt constantly, and thought I was so cool. Slowly pus, and crusty crap oozed out of it like it was puking. So I took it out, I was so scared that I had/would get GANG-green I never had so much crap coming out of a piercing before, so I promptly took it out. After about 1-2 weeks of having it. I swore I wouldn't try that again! But I lied to myself...

Madison (2nd attempt on October 05) I just got myself an iam account, from submitting a photo of myself writing "BMEzine" with a calligraphy pen, which was through my septum. I browsed the galleries, and came upon the surface/unusual piercing section. And saw some photos of a Madison, finding out that there were others out there that did it too. I began to research surface piercing and decided to re-pierce my Madison. I swear this one will not get an infection, or reject! I researched the proper jewelry, aftercare, etc... And got to work...

I grabbed a hollow needle my ex gave me, and got comfortable in front of the bathroom mirror. The Madison hurt a lot more then it did when I attempted it the 1st time. I think it was because of the needle, this time the needle was a 16 gauge 1 1/2" and not a tiny sewing needle that slipped right through. I marked how far I wanted it, and pinched my neck, it took about half an hour of piercing through the skin, because of my sweaty hands, nerves, and the constant pain, I tried to calm down, so I calmly breathed, thought of what I was going to do that night, and went as fast as I could with out totally cringing, so I wouldn't jerk the needle, and pierce an artery/vain. My neck was throbbing, the whole area around the piercing went red, and looked irritated.

As I went through the last layer of skin I could see the shiny end of the tip of the needle. Going through the last layer was the worse it stung, and began to bleed from all of trauma. I took one long deep breath, and pushed with all my might. I opened my eyes, and found the pretty piece of metal protruding through my neck. I forgot to prepare the jewelry to put in it, so I grabbed a tapered curved labret thing and put it through, trying to gauge it so I could put a curved barbell in it, because all of the photos I saw of Madison's with rings looked irritated, and uncomfortable. I researched what kind of jewelry to put in it, while I still had the labret thing in. I didn't have a surface bar that makes the healing process easier/safer, so I used one of those rings with the screw on tips, that was laying around. (I'm pretty sure it's a 16 gauge), and stretched the ring wide enough to stick through both holes comfortably.

I'm wearing the home made surface bar right now, its slightly smaller then the width of the two holes, and so there's a gap in between the ring and the skin. I'm actually cleaning my new Madison regularly with sea salt, this time. And I'm looking for a surface bar with flat beads, to wear in it, so it doesn't get caught on my shirt all the time.

>From research I found that most Madison's usually reject, because of the jewelry, and after care. Because I actually want to keep this one, I'm cleaning it, and treating it like a new born baby. It's about a week, and there's a little bit of pink around hole (like a normal piercing), no red line of the jewelry below the skin (like there was when I first attempted a Madison) & no pus. There's a tiny bit of crust around the jewelry, and when I tried to replace the ring with a wider one, it bled a bit. The Madison keeps getting caught on my shirt, because I don't have a surface bar. I've been wearing loose shirts, and trying not to irritate it, my parents hopefully don't know about the piercing, because they think its self mutilation, and that its one of the first signs of suicidal tendencies, I just think there reading to deep into body modification;. I've been cleaning it with sea salt, and removing all the crusty crap, I think I'll be able to keep this one!

(P.S. if you have/know where I can get cheap surface bars email me! Egg.tea@gmail.com)

<3

Disclaimer: The experience above was submitted by a BME reader and has not
been edited. We can not guarantee that the experience is accurate, truthful,
or contains valid or even safe advice. We strongly urge you to use BME and
other resources to educate yourself so you can make safe informed decisions.


Return to Other / Surface piercing